The wine of Bernkastel is called "Doctor's wine",
or
even shorter still, "Doctor," and it has been known by this singular
name
for more than five hundred years.

About the middle of the fourteenth century Bishop
Bohemund
lay ill of a very violent fever at Bernkastel. The worthy man was
obliged
to swallow many a bitter pill and many a sour drink, but all without
avail.
The poor divine began at last to fear the worst. Despite his high
calling
and his earnest search after holy things, his bishopric on the lovely
Moselle
pleased him better than any seat in heaven. He caused it to be
proclaimed
throughout the length and breadth of his diocese, that whoever should
be
able to cure him of this terrible fever, be he layman or learned
doctor,
should receive his pastoral blessing, and a rich present into the
bargain.

At
that very time, a brave old warrior lived at Treves, who heard about
the
suffering bishop and hat pity on him in his great need.

Moreover
this gray-haired veteran, whose name has not come down to posterity,
was very much indebted to the bishop, for once, many years before,
Bohemund
had saved him from the hands of the enemy in a skirmish near Sponheim.

The
noble old soldier was much distressed to hear that the holy man was
suffering
so terribly. He remembered too, that once he himself had been attacked
by
violent fever and had fought hard with death, and that his friends had
talked
about pills and certain bitter drinks, but he had sent them all away
and
had called his servant, desiring him to bring him a good bowl of fiery
Bernkastler wine. When he had taken a hearty drink,
–
no small matter
for
one lying ill of fever – he awoke out of deep sleep
twelve hours
later,
the fever completely gone.

Why should not this same Bernkastler cure, thought
he,
have the same effect on the worthy prelate?

After considering for a time, the old knight set
out
quite alone from his castle in the forest of Soon to visit his
spiritual
benefactor, taking only a little cask with him.

Bohemund, lying on his sick bed, is said to have
cast
a very suspicious look at the good man who stated that he could cure
him,
but who carried all his medicines and mixtures in a little cask on his
shoulder.
The knight however, making a sign to the officious ,servants ;and
attendants
to leave the chamber, informed the reverend gentleman of what he was
about
to do. He then calmly took the plug out of the cask, and gave the sick
man
a drink of the sparkling wine which he had brought with him.

The bishop readily swallowed the wine at one
draught.
Another was administered to him soon after, and the eminent prelate
fell
into a deep sleep.

The next day the people of Treves heard with great
joy
that the fever had completely disappeared.

The bishop on awaking took another stout draught,
and
sang out of the depths of his grateful heart: –